Patent GB-190512915-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Linotype Machines
Inventor: BRIGHT FRED EUGENE
Filed: 1905-06-22
Granted: 1906-01-18
Abstract: 12,915. Bright, F. E. June 22. Linotype machines.-Relates to linotype machines in which the magazine, escapements, matrices, and space-bars are of the general type employed in the Mergenthaler machine. The delivery shoot D is pivoted to the frame at its upper corners and is formed with channels converging to a central point at the bottom. The escapements are connected to bails 2, Fig. 20, to which are pivoted latches 3. On depression of a key, the head 5 of a lever' 4 is depressed, allowing the latch 3 to be swung by the action of a spring 7 into engagement with a rotating toothed roller 11. The latch 3 is thereby lifted and the escapement actuated, the key-lever being at the same time restored to its initial position. A plate 15, which is reciprocated by a cam, frees the latch 3 from the roller 11, and the spring 7 restores the latch to its former position. The space-bars are supported by their lugs in a magazine G, from which they are released by space-key which depresses a pivoted hook engaging the lower end of the foremost space-bar. The line is pushed forward in the assembly channel I by a reciprocating rod against a yielding resistant consisting of a finger 45, Fig. 5, carried by a rod 44. The resistance is given by a pin on the rod 44 which is pressed by a spring against the wall of a groove. The completed line is transferred to the casting-point by a slide 43, Fig. 5, the motion of which causes the rod 44 to rotate and withdraw the finger 45 from the path of theline. Theslide 43 is reciprocated by a slotted link 55. which is connected by a link 56 to a crank 58. The crank can be locked to a vertical rotating shaft by meant of a clutch operated by a starting-lever U. During the return stroke of the slide 43, an arm thereon opens the clutch. At the casting-point, the lugs of the space-bars are engaged by an elevator J having a projecting lug 79, Fig. 18, which forms the front jaw or abutment for the line. The rear jaw 84, Fig, 5, of the line-locking device is fixed to a vertical shaft 85 which is rotated, to bring the jaw into operative position, by means of a .pinion 86 on the shaft 85 and a rack 87. A pin on the rack is engaged by a pivoted arm 88 which is rotated by the slide 43. On the shaf 85 is a sector 91 which, when the jaw 84 is retracted, rests in the path of a starting-pin 93. Should the composed line be too long, the rotation of the shaft 85 will not allow the sector 91 to clear the pin 93, and the operation of the casting-apparatus will be prevented. After the slug is cast, the . line of matrices is unlocked, and the elevator J, carrying with it the space-bars, is raised on a vertical slide 533, Fig. 18, by the action of a helical cam 532, Fig. 7, which is detachably secured to a vertical shaft 126. The shaft 85, carrying the jaw 84, is rotated, to unlock the line, by a sector 177 gearing with the pinion 86. A projection 178 on the sector is engaged by cams on the sbaft 126. The matrices are then transferred to an elevator bar 580, Fig. 18, by a finger 548 on a rod 547 which is reciprocated by the oscillation of the mould frame K. The rod 547 is connected by a link 543 with a slide 542 which sweeps the space-bars from the elevator J into their magazine. The elevator bar 580 is mounted on a frame 579 which can slide on a bar N, along which it is carried by an endless chain M passing over sprocket-wheels. To the upper sprocketwheel is fixed a spur-wheel 572, near which is a pinion 573 on a constantly-rotating shaft 644. The bar N is given a slight longitudinal motion to bring the wheels 572, 573 into gear in order to drive the chain M. This is effected by levers actuated by a pin on the cam 532. The bar N is retained in its upper position by a pawl which is tripped by the elevator on its descent. The elevator bar 580 remains for a short time in its upper position, this being permitted by a yielding connexion between the elevator and the chain. The matricas are then shifted from the bar 580 to a fixed bar 606 by a horizontal sliding rod 601 actuated by a spring. The ascent of the elevator returns the rod 601 to its initial position by means of a flexible connector pissing over pulleys. The connexion between the elevator and the rod 601 is tripped after the bar 580 has reached its highest position, and a braking-device prevents the too rapid motion of the rod 601. The matrices are lifted one by one up to the distributing. bar Q by a lifting-piece actuated by a cam, A projection on the bar 606 engages an inclined slot A<10> in the matrix A, Fig. 10<a>, so as to move the matrix laterally during its ascent and prevent more than one matrix from being lifted at a time. The lifted matrix is held by a leaf spring and a pawl in register with the distributing-bar Q, along which it is carried by an endless chain P. The chain passes over sprocket-wheels, to one of which motion is given by worm gearing from a shaft 624. The worm-wheel is secured to its shaft by means of a spring-pressed plunger in order to prevent the chain from being broken in the event of a stoppage. When at the casting-point, the matrices are alined by a hooked plate which engages the lower lugs on one side of the matrices and is actuated by a cam and lever against the action of a spring. The space-bars are driven upwards in order to justify the. line by a bar actuated, by a spring and controlled by a cam. The cam is formed with a number of depressions so as to give a series of jogging strokes to the bar. The last of these depressions only comes into action if the line is too short to be properly justified, and means are thereby actuated which lock the plunger of the metal pot out of action. The mould block K is carried by a vertical arm, secured to a sleeve which can rotate round and slide along a shaft. The sliding motion, which carries the mould to and from the matrices, is effected by a lever and cam. The rotary motion, which is effected by a rack and pinion, brings the mould slot opposite the ejector blade. To cause the mould to register exactly with the line of matrices, a pin on the mould block enters a recess in a plate adjustably fixed on the frame of the machine. The metal pot L, Fig. 7, is mounted on pivoted standards and is rocked towards and away from the mould block by a cam. The metal is ejected from the pot by a plunger actuated by a spring and controlled by a lever and cam: The pot mouth may be formed with grooves so as to cast projecting fins on the slug which assist in withdrawing the slug from the matrices and also in holding it in the mould during trimming. After the slug is cast, the mould block is rotated into register with an ejector blade S, and during the rotation a pivoted knife R trims the base of the slug; The blade S is carried by a sliding plunger, connected by a bell-crank lever with a cam which is so formed that the slug is first partly and then completely ejected from the mould. While the slug is partly ejected, its upper and lower front edges are trimmed by two knives T, which are pressed together by springs and are mounted in a frame which slides on an irclined rod. The frame is reciprocated on the rod by a two-armed lever connected by a vertical sliding rod actuated by a cam. The slug is then ejected from the mould and drops into a shoot which has curved walls and which places the slug on its edga in a galley Y. A vibrating piece carries the slug against an adjustable support 655. The machine is driven from a band-wheel 361 loose on a shaft 362. To the wheel 361 is fixed a spur-wheel 365, gearing with a pinion 366 on a shaft 367 on which is a sleeve 369, which can be locked to the shaft by a clutch operated by a foot-lever 373. From the sleeve 369 are driven, by means of a chain 374 and belts 501, 381, the escapements, the line-transferring device, the matrix elevator, and the distributing- mechanism. The wheel 361 can be locked to the shaft 362 by a clutch 363 operated by a sliding rod 407. A spring 408 normally locksthis clutch, which may be unlocked by either of two foot-levers 412, 413. A pinion 396 on the shaft 362 gears ; with a spur-wheel 397 on the cam shaft of the machine which actuates the casting, trimming, ejecting, and galley mechanisms. Automatic means, actuated by the transfer slide 43, are also provided for engaging and disengaging the clutch 363 at each revolution of the cam shaft.